PoliticsÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Not as Usual - Teamsters Local 25

9239_Local25_Sum08.qxp 7/28/08 10:20 AM Page 1 

Politics…Not as Usual 

Local 25 Gears Up For Fall Elections 

SUMMER 2008


Board of Trustees 

Teamsters Union 25 

Health Services & 

Insurance Plan 

Sean M. O’Brien 

Union Co-Chairman 

Mark A. Harrington 

Union Trustee 

John A. Murphy 

Union Trustee 

Charles F. Arbing 

Employer Co-Chairman 

John Remillard 

Employer Trustee 

Tom J. Ventura 

Employer Trustee 

TeamstersCare 

Providing comprehensive health care to Teamsters and their families. 

TeamstersCare Notes 

TeamstersCare will again be offering prostate 

cancer screening and flu vaccines in the fall of 

2008. Specific dates will be announced in a Wellness 

Calendar mailing in August 2008. Watch 

your mailbox! 

Welcome Construction Teamsters 

Health and Welfare Fund Members! 

The Construction Teamsters merged into TeamstersCare 

on May 1, 2008. We look forward to 

providing them with the high level of service 

and benefit package that TeamstersCare members 

have long enjoyed. 

Summer is here and this means that children have much more free time on their hands. The current 

social climate for our youth includes frequent use of computers and the Internet. Although the Internet 

is a valuable resource, the World Wide Web can also present some potential hazards to our children. 

Educating ourselves is an important step in reducing our children’s risk of exploitation or victimization 

via the computer. The TeamstersCare Mental Health Office offers the following tips: 

• Take a class at your local library if 

you are unfamiliar with the Internet 

so that you can talk more confidently 

with your child. 

• Set guidelines for children before 

they use the Internet (see additional 

resources). 

• Purchase filtering software that will 

block or restrict access to web sites 

you feel are inappropriate for your 

child. 

• Become aware of the web sites your 

children use and the language associated 

with them. 

• Monitor your child’s online activity 

just as you would other activities 

such as movies, TV or friends. 

16 | The SPOKESMAN | SUMMER 2008 | www.teamsterslocal25.com 

Internet Safety: 

Tips for Teamster Parents and Grandparents


Scenes from Teamster Kids’ 

Hearing Screening Day 

This year’s annual Teamster Kids’ Hearing Screening 

Day took place on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Nearly 20 

children participated. Thankfully, no serious hearing 

problems were found. However, several medically 

treatable ear conditions were identified and referred 

for medical management. If you missed the event 

and wish to have your child evaluated, please call the 

TeamstersCare appointment desk in Charlestown. 

• Keep the computer in an open area or family room where computer activities can be easily 

observed. 

• Let your children know they can talk to you about anything, without feeling uncomfortable. 

• Children shouldn’t post their photo or include personal information on the Internet. 

• Warning signs of risky Internet activity include: shutting off the computer monitor or 

changing screens when you enter the room, and/or your child receiving phone calls from 

people you don’t know. 

• Never allow your child to set up a meeting with someone you have not met personally. 

• If your child receives a message that is harassing, threatening, or of a sexual nature, contact your 

local police or district attorney’s office to report it. 

If you have any questions or concerns please contact our confidential TeamstersCare Mental 

Health Office @ 1-800-851-8326 

Additional resources: 

Book: “Generation MySpace: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence,” by Candice M. Kelsey. 

Web sites: Federal Bureau of Investigation publication, “A Parent’s Guide to Internet Safety,” at 

www.fbi.gov/publications/pguide/pguide.htm. 

Family contracts for online safety at www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11030951/. 

Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security at 

www.mass.gov/?pageID=eopstopic&L=3&L0=Home&L1=Crime+Prevention+%26+Personal+Safety&L2=Inter 

net+Safety&sid=Eeops. Links from this page include www.netsmartz.org and www.nsteens.org. 

Online Safety Tips for Teens, a division of WiredSafety, at www.teenangels.org/safety_ForTeens.html. 

WiredSafety, the world’s largest Internet safety and help group. WiredSafety provides help, information and education 

to Internet and mobile device users of all ages. We help victims of cyber abuse ranging from online fraud, 

cyber stalking and child safety, to hacking and malicious code attacks. We also help parents with issues, such as 

MySpace and cyber bullying: www.wiredsafety.org. 

www.teamsterscare.com 

TeamstersCare Directory 

Charlestown Office 

16 Sever St. 

Charlestown, MA 02129 

Administration • Audiology 

Dental • Member Services 

Local Tel: 617-241-9220 

Within MA: 800-442-9939 

Out of State: 800-225-6135 

Fax: 617-241-8168 

Charlestown Pharmacy 

552 Main St. 

Charlestown, MA 02129 

Local Tel: 617-241-9024 

Toll Free: 800-235-0760 

Fax: 617-241-5025 

Stoughton Pharmacy 

1214 Park St. 

Stoughton, MA 02072 

Tel: 781-297-9764 

Fax: 781-297-9370 

Stoughton Dental Office 

1214 Park St. 

Stoughton, MA 02072 

Tel: 781-297-7360 

Toll Free: 877-326-1999 

Fax: 781-297-7830 

Chelmsford Dental Office 

4 Meeting House Rd. 

Chelmsford, MA 01824 

Tel: 978-256-9728 

Toll Free: 800-258-2111 

Fax: 978-256-9846 

Mental Health Office 

16 Sever St./Sullivan Square 

Charlestown, MA 02129-1305 

24-hour Toll Free 

Tel: 800-851-8326 

Fax: 781-321-6501 

www.teamsterslocal25.com | SUMMER 2008 | The SPOKESMAN | 17


8 

FEATURES 

7 Local 25 Makes 

Safety a Priority 

The 

14 

22 

In This Issue | Summer 2008 

8 Teamsters Represent 

More Than 11,000 UPS 

Freight Workers 

Thousands of Workers Join 

Teamsters from Coast to Coast 

14 Carhaul Tentative Agreement 

The Casino Plan Would Address 

Many Challenges Facing the State 

22 Weight-Loss Challenge 

Local 25 Members Have “Biggest 

Loser” Competition at Work 

Spokesman 


Secretary-Treasurer 


Vice President/ 

Business Agent 

Date of Filing: 

January 7, 2008 

Title of Publication: 

The Spokesman 

Frequency of Issue: 

Quarterly 

DEPARTMENTS 

2 Business Agent Reports 

10 Calendar 

16 TeamstersCare 

18 Organizing 

20 Blood Bank 

24 Stewards Spotlight 

26 Pensioners 

27 In Memoriam 

28 Retiree Chapter News 

Philip H. Mallett 

Recording Secretary 

Jackie Addison 

Trustee 

Tim Madden 

Trustee 

John Jay Manley 

Trustee 

Robert Fabrizio 


Tom Mari 


7 

Cover Image: President Sean O’Brien 

poses with Congresswomen Niki Tsongas 

(D-Mass) and UPS member Bill Gray 

before Tsongas became a Teamster for 

the day riding along with Gray. 

Statement of Ownership, Management & Circulation 

Location of Office: 

544 Main Street 

Boston, MA 02129 

Total: 15,000 

Editor & Managing 

Editor: Sean M. O’Brien 

Sean M. O'Brien, President/Principal Officer 

George Slicis 


Bob McAllister 


Dave Pietroforte 


Ownership: 

Local 25 Teamsters Union 

544 Main Street Boston, 

MA 02129 

Total # Copies: 15,000 

VISIT THE 

Left Lane 

The “Left Lane” is the name of 

the new Teamsters Local 25 Store, 

which is housed in the Day Room 

at the headquarters at 544 Main 

Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts. 

The store features a select number 

of different items offered on a seasonal 

basis: shirts, hats, jackets and 

sweatshirts. There will also be specialty 

items available throughout 

the year. 

The store will be open from 8 a.m. 

to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, 

and one hour before and one 

hour after the monthly meetings. 

The store will accept cash, 

credit card or debit card. 

For more information call 

(617) 241-9687 

Gerry Godin 

Business Representative 

Steven R. Sullivan 

Director of Organizing 

and Government Affairs 

Paid and/or requested 

Circulation: None 

Free Distribution 

by Mail: 14,348 

Free Distribution 

Outside the Mail: 652 

Total Distribution: 

15,000 

Copies not Distributed: 

652 (office use..etc)


“I am calling 

on all Local 25 

members to do 

your part by 

registering to vote 

and casting your 

ballots for candi- 

dates who have 

the courage to 

back policies and 

programs that 

help working 

families.” 

–SEAN M. O'BRIEN 

PRESIDENT/ 

PRINCIPAL 

OFFICER 

President 

Message from the 

Dear Brothers and Sisters: 

As this edition of The Spokesman hits members’ homes, we enter the final, crucial stretch in the various 

political campaigns, both locally and nationally. 

Statewide, we have been very active in supporting candidates who back working families. This 

includes those candidates who have backed creating family wage jobs by supporting Governor Deval 

Patrick’s plan to legalize casino gambling. When candidates turn their backs on working families of 

the Commonwealth, we have supported their challengers. In a democracy, this is how you fight to 

make a difference. 

I am calling on all Local 25 members to do your part by registering to vote and casting your ballots 

for candidates who have the courage to back policies and programs that help working families. 

Powerful special interests will spend millions of dollars this election year fighting such policies. We 

need to counter this anti-worker strategy by going to the polls and supporting the candidates who 

support us. If you have not registered to vote, we will be happy to send you a voter registration form. 

Remember, don’t let wedge issues get in the way of making the correct choices. Rather than get 

caught up in the debate over gun rights or gay rights, support the candidates who will fight for a 

strong middle class and the ability to give our children a brighter future. 

On the national level, the right choice for working families is Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. I know 

some of you may not be convinced that Sen. Obama is the best choice for president. Brothers and sisters, 

Sen. Obama is the right choice. He is the right choice for America, for Massachusetts, and for all 

the men and women who go to work every day and who struggle to make ends meet. He is clearly the 

best choice for the Teamsters Union and its members. Sen. Obama will fight for passage of the 

Employee Free Choice Act and other pro-worker legislation. 

If you haven’t done so already, I urge you to join DRIVE, the Teamsters’ political action committee, so 

that we can help pro-worker candidates win this fall. 

I am happy to report that I’ve been appointed co-chairman of the Eastern Region UPS Freight Panel. 

I am excited to continue working to support UPS Freight workers who have successfully joined the 

union and ratified their first Teamster contract after more than a half-century struggle. I appreciate 

the confidence that International Vice President and Package Division Director Ken Hall has in me, 

and I will fight to make sure that workers’ rights are upheld. 

As this edition goes to print, the national carhaul contract is going out to a vote by 9,000 carhaul 

members nationwide. We are sorry that our former carhaul members at PTS lost their jobs after the 

company shut down followed by a strike at the company. We have offered the ex-PTS members assistance, 

including OSHA-10 Construction Outreach training, and our support will continue. We will 

do whatever it takes to help them get back on their feet. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer and please vote in the upcoming fall elections on 

September 16 and November 4. 

Fraternally, 

Sean M. O'Brien 

President/Principal Officer 




Mark Harrington 

I recently completed contract negotiations 

with Dry Ice Corporation. 

The contract is for five years and 

includes maintenance of benefits 

for health, welfare and pension 

benefits as well as wage and vacation 

improvements. I would like to 

thank steward John Maskell for his assistance. 

I also completed Lafarge Cement negotiations. We won 

maintenance of benefits regarding health, welfare and pension 

benefits as well as solid wage and vacation improvements. I 

would like to thank Steward John Henigan for his help. 

Negotiations were also completed with the town of 

Hingham’s Department of Public Works. The DPW members 

received a wage increase of 3 percent across-the-board as 

well as improvements in longevity and clothing allowances. 

Thanks go out to steward Pat Boyle and member Steve 

Dempsey. 

A tentative agreement has been reached with Petro Heat 

and Power, which when ratified will set the pattern for other 

oil contracts within the jurisdiction of Local 25. 

In freight, I settled a subcontracting grievance with New 

Penn that will expand our area of service. Hard work was put 

forth by stewards Tim Halloran and John Moody. 

In the carhaul division, our members have faced very 

tough times. The strike against PTS resulted in the company’s 

closure. We were really left with no alternative but to strike as 

PTS pulled out of national negotiations and demanded concessions 

that were unreasonable. We are working diligently to 

assist the displaced PTS workers. 

Also in carhaul, we have also been informed that Allied, 

the largest carhaul employer nationally, has lost the Ford 

work in Framingham that our members have done for several 

decades. There is no loyalty from the shippers today. Our 

members jumped through hoops to service that account. 

A tentative national carhaul agreement has been reached 

and is out for a vote. Ballots were sent out in mid-July and 

the ballot count is scheduled to take place in early August. 

The entire carhaul industry is facing terrible economic conditions 

and this contract addresses our members’ main concerns 

about job security, wages and benefits. 

I continue negotiations with a number of companies and 

will report on those talks in the fall. 



Dedicated to Our Local Union Members 

Vice-President and 


John Murphy 

I am pleased to tell you that 

General President Jim Hoffa has 

appointed me as Chairman of the 

Eastern Region of the DHL 

Division. I am looking forward to 

serving in this new position on 

behalf of the more than 600 DHL members at Local 25 and 

others in the East. 

Also in freight, the YRC Corporation change of operations 

was recently approved by the International Union’s 

Freight Division. This affects our freight members at Yellow 

and Roadway Express. I think this will have a positive effect 

for our members and hopefully will help the companies 

improve service within their service lanes. 

I’m waiting for the ballots to be sent out to members at 

AEI/DHL Global Forwarding for the national contract and 

the supplement. 

I’ve been given a couple of new assignments as business 

agent representing the members at Boston Sand & Gravel 

and at Safway Scaffolding in Braintree. I’m looking forward 

to meeting all the workers at these workplaces and helping 

them with any problems they may face. 

A grievance case filed on behalf of UPS Cartage Inc. 

workers involving the 3-percent pay increase deadlocked at 

the regional panel and will now be moving to the national 

panel. I look forward to getting this issue resolved in a positive 

way. 

I’m currently in contract negotiations on behalf of the 

Massport Authority service maintenance employees. These 

talks affect 400 members, and I will fight to make sure the 

workers’ interests are protected. 

The national DHL Express contract was ratified recently 

and the company has 90 days to post the 90/10 bids and 30 

days to implement the bids.


Reports 


Bob McAllister 

Since my last report, I settled the 

contract with Manfi Leasing for the 

Stop & Shop drivers. It is an addendum 

to the National Master Freight 

Agreement. We maintained the top 

health and welfare benefits, as well 

as the top pension benefits. We also 

got significant wage increases over the five years of the contract. 

We also strengthened seniority language and added 27 

more bid starts with weekend days off. The contract was ratified 

by a vote of 205-6. I want to thank my committee of Jay 

Manley, Mark Sullivan and John Curtin for their hard work. 

I also completed the contract with Stop & Shop for the 

fleet mechanics. We got top wage increases over five years. 

Some of the members will receive $3.75 in wage increases 

over the life of the agreement as well as the top health and 

welfare benefits. Also, the company increased their contribution 

by 10 percent in order to satisfy the maintenance of benefits 

for the pension. We increased the new hire wage progression 

and got sick days for all employees. Thanks to Steward 

Tim Godfrey who did a great job as we went up against the 

company’s committee of seven. 

I have been in negotiations with Hertz over the past 

month. Healthcare and wages are the main issues. I will be 

wrapping up the St. Michael’s Cemetery contract soon. I will 

be opening up with National car rental in the coming weeks. 

I recently negotiated an agreement with GAF Materials 

that will keep the shipping and distribution department open 

in Millis. We will be able to maintain about six members. 

With the assistance of Steward Joe Cormican, we unanimously 

ratified a new five-year contract that called for significant 

wage increases as well as maintaining Teamsters health and 

welfare benefits while reducing the cost to the members. 

As you know, with the cost of fuel out of control, the airlines 

have been taking a big hit. This will have a negative 

impact on our members at Continental, Air Canada and our 

newest members at United. 

I am working toe that the rights of these members are 

protected should there be any job reductions here in Boston. 


George Slicis 

Like Local 25’s other business 

agents, I have been busy with contracts 

this year. 

The priority in all of the contracts 

is protecting health care, pensions 

and wages. Each set of negotiations 

is tough during these difficult 

economic times. I negotiated a contract with Delaney 

Linens in Watertown, which has been ratified. It is a five-year 

deal with full coverage of the Teamsters health and welfare 

benefits, a 10-percent increase in pension contributions each 

year and 50 cents per year for wage increases. The guys were 

happy and all voted yes. 

I also negotiated a contract with Crown Linen services in 

South Boston, which has been ratified. They also have a fiveyear 

deal with full coverage of the Teamsters health and welfare 

benefits, a 10-percent increase each year in pension contributions 

as well as increases in the commission schedule. 

This was also ratified by a 100-percent margin. 

I negotiated a tentative agreement with Aramark uniform 

service in Lawrence, which was recently ratified. They will 

also get full coverage of the Teamsters health and welfare benefits, 

a 10-percent increase per year toward the pension, and 

were able to get wage increases for the hourly employees 

while raising the commission rates with some sales- incentives 

language. I also got some letters of understanding with 

some work-related issues that needed to get resolved. 

I also negotiated, and the workers ratified, a one-year deal 

with Good Humor Breyers ice cream in Framingham. The 

workers got full coverage of the Teamsters health and welfare 

benefits as well as 65 cents in wage increases. The company 

had asked for a one-year extension due to new management 

changes and wasn’t sure of the direction the company was 

going at this time. We also got a severance package that will 

protect the employees and we will start negotiations early in 

2009 for a long-term contract. 

I recently started negotiations with Angelica Textiles in 

Somerville. I hope to get them a good long-term contract as well. 

I am also working on a new contract for the town of 

Sudbury 9-1-1 operators. It is going slow because of all the 

boilerplate language that needs to be implemented, but we 

will get it done. Public sector bargaining is a whole new animal 

to me and it has been a learning experience. 



Business Agent Reports 


Tom Mari 

I have been in negotiations with 

many of the employers of my bargaining 

units over the past three 

months. 

I have finished up negotiations 

with Brookline 9-1-1, in which we 

completed a four-year contract that 

we secured a “four and two” work schedule, which was our 

number-one priority during these sessions. The “four and 

two” work schedule means that each member will receive 17 

more paid days each year. 

Negotiations with the Boston Globe are also completed, 

and we secured the maintenance of benefits for the health and 

welfare, and a 10-percent increase in pension contributions. 

I have finished negotiations with the town of Melrose for 

the school administrators. We secured many gains in this 

deal, such as yearly wage increases, increases in longevity and 

increases in education incentives. Also, we brought five of the 

13 members’ wages up by more than $10,000 annually to give 

them parity with the rest of the department heads. 

I am proud to report that I have finished negotiations 

with the newly organized Kraft Power group. These members 

proved that when you vote to become Teamsters Local 25 

members by a 17-2 vote, you send a clear message to the 

company that when negotiations start, we are unified. We 

secured a first contract that has many protections of a much 

more mature contract, such as overtime after eight hours, 

plus double time after 12 hours, four-hour minimum emergency 

calls, guaranteed start times, and most importantly, we 

secured Teamsters Local 25 Health and Welfare, which is a far 

superior benefit than what these members were receiving. 

These new members will receive a 3.5-percent raise in the 

first year, 3 percent in year two, and 3 percent in year three. 

We secured set rates for each classification. Before we had a 

contract, the company had techs that were equally qualified 

and in some cases were being paid more than a dollar an 

hour different. Now all things are equal. 

I want to thank all my negotiating committees for their 

support and resolve during these hard-fought contract 

negotiations. 



Robert Fabrizio 

I am happy to report that this past 

March, I came to a tentative agreement 

with Kiessling Transit, a newly 

organized company in Braintree, 

Massachusetts. Kiessling Transit provides 

door-to-door service to passengers 

with disabilities. They are 

one of four privately owned companies that have contracts 

with the M.B.T.A. 

The program is called The Ride. The drivers either drive 

sedans or vans to transport disabled passengers. There are 

approximately 125 drivers currently and the company is growing. 

The drivers ratified their first contract on March 16 by a 

25-1 vote. 

The next day, our Organizing Department got a call saying 

the dispatchers and schedulers wanted to join the union. 

Within two weeks, they were accreted into the driver’s contract 

along with the call takers, which brings up the total of new 

members to 152. 

Kiessling was the last company to be organized that falls 

under The Ride program. Veterans Taxi out of Waltham was 

one of the first. They have close to 200 drivers. Joint Venture, 

based out of Jamaica Plain, where we represent approximately 

111 members, includes drivers along with the dispatchers, 

schedulers and reservationists. Teamsters Local 42 represents 

G.L.S.S, (Greater Lynn Senior Services) which is up in the 

North Shore. 

I am pleased to announce that the members of Romanow 

Container, a corrugated cardboard company in Westwood, 

Massachusetts, overwhelmingly ratified their new five-year 

contract on May 31, which included increases in wages along 

with increases in pension contributions and a three-year freeze 

on the employee health-care premiums. 

Congratulations to the members of the town of Cohasset 

9-1-1 safety dispatchers, They recently ratified a new three-year 

contract, which includes yearly wage increases, a new shift differential, 

along with trainers’ pay. 

The contract for Stop & Shop distribution in Freetown, 

Massachusetts expires next April, and as we all know, April will 

be here before you know it. The surveys were already sent out 

months ago. I am in the process of putting together the committee 

as of this writing, and the next step is to have our proposal 

meeting around the end of August or early September. I 

would like to encourage each and every one of you who work 

at Stop & Shop distribution to participate in preparing for 

these important upcoming negotiations.



Dave Pietroforte 

It’s been a busy late spring and 

early summer for me when it 

comes to negotiating contracts, but 

the effort has paid off for our 

members. 

At MS Walker in Norwood, I 

negotiated a three-year contract 

that protected workers’ health, welfare and pension benefits 

and contained solid wage gains. The members later ratified 

the deal. Similarly successful contracts were negotiated and 

ratified at U.S. Foods in Everett; City of Everett’s City 

Services Department; Arrow Paper in Wilmington; Mystic 

Island Trans (five-year contract) in Woburn; Minuteman 

Trans (five-year contract) in Andover; Gilman Brothers in 

Norwood; Millbrook Cold Storage in Somerville; and RIS 

Paper in Woburn. I want to thank all the members who took 

part in the process and also for standing with me every step 

of the way. The hard work these past months have resulted 

in more security for you and your families during this very 

difficult economic period. 

At Costa Fruit in Charlestown, negotiations are going 

slower and we’re still fighting to resolve the key issues, but 

hopefully there will be a breakthrough soon. I’m also still 

negotiating a new contract at Paul Revere Trans in Chelsea. 

I’m sorry to report that a 94-year-old Massachusetts 

institution, Brigham’s Ice Cream, closed down. Brigham’s 

sold its brand name to H.P. Hood and its stores to a 

Maryland company. The company gave workers vacation 

pay, sick days and personal time that was owed to them this 

year and next, but 30 of our members were left without jobs. 

We’re trying to get the company to abide by language in the 

contract related to the severance packages and successor language. 

That fight continues. Brigham’s closure is a major loss 

to our members, their families and the community in general. 

We’ve also helped the displaced members with training, 

including help getting them their CDLs through the Local 

25 driver training school. 

In the public sector, I negotiated a contract for the town 

of Acton 9-1-1 operators, which workers ratified 7-0. The 

three-year deal provides the workers with retroactive pay 

and step-pay increases and an overall 12-percent wage 

increase over three years. 

I also settled two more arbitration cases involving city of 

Everett employees. The first resulted in a 2-percent step 

increase affecting eight City Services Department workers. 

The second helped eight workers get paid for back holidays 

at time-and-a-half. 

At U.S. Foods, I have filed three arbitration cases. Two 

involve unjust suspensions, the third a bid infraction. 

Business Representative 

Gerry Godin 

I have been busy recently negotiating 

contracts at several companies. 

The successful negotiations 

include Bradco Supply in Woburn 

and in Chelmsford; Waltham 

Lime & Cement; Arlington Coal 

and Lumber; Brockway-Smith in 

Andover; North American Industries in Woburn; O.B. Hill 

in Allston; and the newly organized Admiral Roofing in 

Woburn. 

We made significant gains in every one of the contracts 

and we didn’t give anything back to the employers. For 

example, at Admiral Roofing, we won raises between $1 and 

$9 an hour that took effect immediately. We also got the 

workers into the Teamster pension plan. At Arlington Coal 

and Lumber, we got the workers into the Teamsters Health 

and Welfare plan. Thank you to all the workers for your 

support over these past several months. 

I recently settled three arbitration cases at solid waste 

giant Waste Management. We settled two cases favorably 

early on in the process and we won the third case, so all 

three ended well for our members. Two cases involved terminations 

while the third had to do with discipline connected 

to an alleged failure to complete a work shift. We will 

continue fighting to protect our members’ rights through 

the arbitration process when necessary. 

I’m happy to report that under the guidance of Local 25 

President Sean O’Brien, we’re getting more constructionrelated 

work for Local 25 Teamsters. At Logan Airport in 

Boston, where crews are building more runways, we have 

four members who are driving at the site. We also took over a 

commercial job in Dedham, creating six Teamster driving 

jobs. At the train station in Westwood, we got six driving jobs 

for our members. We will continue to fight for more 

Teamster jobs in the construction industry—this is our work. 

We helped Capital Waste in Revere, a solid waste company, 

win the garbage-collection contracts in Weymouth, 

Quincy and Braintree. This has resulted in 30 more 

Teamster jobs. 



M 

ore than 7,000 Teamsters working at DHL 

Express, including about 600 DHL workers 

who belong to Local 25, ratified their first 

national agreement in May. 

The national contract was ratified by a solid 82 

percent margin. 

“The vote from DHL 

Express members is a strong 

signal of support,” said Jim 

Hoffa, Teamsters General 

President. “We were determined 

to obtain the best contract that 

we could for members, and I 

believe we have achieved that. I 

thank our national negotiating 

committee and our members 

on a job well done.” 

“This contract is good news 

for our 600-plus DHL workers 

here at Local 25,” said John 

Murphy, Local 25 Vice 

President and business agent. 

“Our hardworking members at 

DHL will benefit from the 

improved wages and benefits, and the improved 

working conditions.” 

The contract also strengthens job security for 

drivers, freight handlers, warehouse workers, clerical 

workers and call center representatives at dozens of 

DHL Express locations across the U.S. 

Murphy Selected Chairman 

Meanwhile, Hoffa appointed Local 25 Vice 

President John Murphy to serve as the Chairman of 

the Eastern Region for the DHL Express Division. 

“I’m very proud to be appointed to this new 

position and I look forward to serving the DHL 

Teamsters in the East,” Murphy said. 

The five-year contract expires on March 31, 

2013. Among the national contract’s highlights: 

annual wage and benefit increases, including $8.35 


DHL Members 

Ratify National Contract 

Hoffa Appoints Local 25 Vice President John Murphy to Key Position 

over the term of the contract for pick up-and-delivery 

and clerical workers; all health-and-welfare and 

pension funds are maintained for current employees; 

a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, applies to 

all employees and operations covered by the new 

agreement. 

“This is a great agreement. 

We protected what we already 

had and we’ve gained more,” 

said Patti McGuckin, a DHL 

dock agent and member of 

Teamsters Local 299 in Detroit. 

“We’re getting steady wage 

increases, and our pension and 

health-and-welfare plans are 

protected.” 

“I can’t help but think that 

this is going to be a good thing 

for everybody,” said Sam 

Conover, a DHL driver and 

member of Teamsters Local 

135 in Indianapolis. “I believe 

this helps the company by giving 

them some avenues to do 

some cost-saving. At the same time, our jobs have 

been protected and this is the strongest wage-andbenefit 

package I’ve seen as a Teamster.” 

Negotiations took place in a difficult environment: 

Since purchasing Airborne Express in 2003, 

DHL has lost billions of dollars in the U.S., including 

$900 million last year. Under these difficult conditions, 

the Teamsters negotiating committee secured 

an agreement that significantly raises workers’ wages 

and provides a path for further organizing at DHL. 

“I am very happy with the way our local union 

handled these negotiations.” Said Jerry Wright, 

Steward from DHL in So. Boston. “President Sean 

O’Brien, Business Agents Tom Mari and John 

Murphy fought hard for the members in the East” 

In total, approximately 55.4 percent of eligible 

workers voted on the contract.


LOCAL 25 MAKES 

SAFETY A PRIORITY 

Other Available Classes 

Digital Camera 

8/2 & 8/9 

Saturdays, 10-12pm 

8/21 & 8/28 

Thursdays, 7-9 pm 

Buying a Computer 

8/16 

Saturday, 10-12pm 

Internet/Email 

9/6-11/15 

Saturdays, 1-3pm 

*2 month course 

Computer Basics 

9/6 – 11/15 

Saturdays, 10-12 pm 


Microsoft Word 

9/2 – 11/4 

Tuesdays, 7-9 pm 


Intermediate Computer Skills 

9/4 – 11/6 

Thursdays, 7-9pm 


Ebay 

8/14 

Thursday, 7-9 pm 

8/30 

Saturday, 10-12 pm 

For more information please 

contact Joe DeBlasi. 

Cell: 617-416-4916 

Email: jdeblasi@teamsterslocal25.com 

On Sunday, June 22, 2008, an eight-hour hazardous materials 

transportation safety course was offered to all Local 25 members 

working at Massport’s land, air and seaport in Boston. 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Safety Instructor Richard 

Lindsay conducted the class. 

“I commend the six participants from Massport who attended the 

training class,” said Sean M. O’Brien, Local 25 President. “It is important 

that our members are properly trained in the workplace, both to protect 

themselves and their coworkers.” 

In attendance were: Dave Theroux, Paul Dodge, Robert Taylor, Paul 

Coronite, Paul DiRico and Philip Abdoo. 

The course is specifically designed to fulfill the DOT hazmat awareness 

and security awareness training requirements of workers who 

work at, and frequently enter, the nation’s airports and seaports. The 

training enables workers to protect themselves and their coworkers by 

recognizing hazmat emergencies and security threats. Upon completion, 

each worker receives a card that certifies compliance with both 

the DOT hazmat and security awareness training requirements. This 

card is good for three years, after which time DOT requires workers to 

take this training again. 

On Wednesday, June 25, 2008, an OSHA-10 Construction Outreach 

Training Program was offered to the displaced PTS carhaul drivers. “In 

order to make a transition into the construction industry, these drivers 

need an OSHA-10 Construction Card with them at all times. We expedited 

the training for these members,” O’Brien said. 

Left to right: Mike Kimball in harness and Scot Driscoll demonstrate 

the personal fall arrest system. 



Teamsters Now Represent More 

11,000 

Than UPS Freight Workers 

Teamsters Nearing Goal of Representing 12,600 Workers 

In four months, more than 11,000 UPS 

Freight drivers and dockworkers in 40 

states have signed cards to become 

Teamsters, the largest organizing victory 

in the freight industry in 25 years. 

More than 9,900 of these workers 

have already ratified a new contract 

which improves wages, benefits and 

working conditions. The Teamsters won a 

card-check agreement from UPS in 

December 2007, and began collecting 

cards from UPS Freight (formerly 

Overnite Transportation) workers on 

January 16, 2008. 

“The determination and dedication of 

these workers to join the Teamsters is 

tremendous,” said Teamsters General 

President Jim Hoffa.“We are proud to represent 

them and we are closer to our goal of 

representing 12,600 UPS Freight workers.” 

“To have organized more than 11,000 

workers in such a short amount of time 

continues to amaze me,” said Teamsters 

Package Division Director Ken Hall. 

“These employees work tirelessly for UPS 

Freight and they should be rewarded with 

8 | The SPOKESMAN | WINTER 2008 | www.teamsterslocal25.com 

good wages and benefits.” 

In the latest victories, workers will be 

joining: Local 624 in Santa Rosa, 

California; Local 512 in Jacksonville, 

Florida; Local 983 in Pocatello, Idaho and 

Local 483 in Boise, Idaho, which includes 

the Twin Falls terminal; Local 279 in 

Decatur, Illinois; Local 568 in Shreveport, 

Louisiana; Local 891 in Jackson, 

Mississippi; and Local 492 in 

Albuquerque, New Mexico, which 

includes the Farmington and 

Albuquerque terminals. 

“We can now look forward to better 

job protection and better workplace conditions, 

and we welcome them,” said Joe 

Shaw, newly elected Local 25 Steward at 

UPS-Freight in Billerica, Massachusetts. 

“This proves that workers who want 

to join a union can come together and 

organize to get the job done,” said Sean 

M. O’Brien, President of Local 25.“The 

UPS Freight employees worked long and 

hard to get representation and it’s a relief 

for them to finally be Teamsters,” 

A majority of UPS Freight workers in 

Left to Right: Nick Mayo and Joe Shaw count 

ballots ratifying the new Local 25 contract. 

40 states have submitted cards: Alabama, 

Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, 

Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, 

Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, 

Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, 

Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 

Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, 

New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, 

North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, 

Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, 

South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, 

Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West 

Virginia and Wisconsin. 

Victories have come in numerous 

large cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, 

Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, 

Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, 

Houston, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, 

Memphis, Minneapolis, Nashville, 

Oakland, Orlando, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, 

Raleigh, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, San 

Diego, San Jose, St. Louis and 

Washington, D.C. 

President O’Brien has been named 

co-chair of the Eastern Regional UPS- 

Freight hearings.


Peter Henson Larry Hill Doug Kinsman 

Group Shot with Business Representative Gerry Godin 

John Gatturna 

Robert Macari 

INDEPENDENT PIPE AND SUPPLY CORP. (IP&S) has risen over 

the last four generations to become one of the largest family owned industrial 

PVF houses in New England. As the premier distributor of industrial pipe, they 

represent the top suppliers in providing a comprehensive product range: pipe, 

strainers, backflow preventers, steam traps, commercial equipment, valves, 

instrumentation, fittings & flanges, fire protection and specialties such as gaskets, 

pipe tools and machines, expansion joints and more. 

Local 25 represents 30 truck drivers and warehousemen at Independent Pipe. 

“These guys are the best, it is a pleasure to serve them, they are true 

Teamsters.” –Gerry Godin, Business Representative, Teamsters Local 25 

Gary Neimiec John Demarco Keith “Moose” Hopkins


August 2008 

September 2008 

October 2008 


Events 

Calendar of 

August 4 

August 22 

August 26 

August 27 

September 1 

September 2 

September 7 

September 11 

September 16 

September 21 

September 27 

September 28 

September 30 

October 9 

October 13 

October 15 

October 18 

October 19 

October 25 

October 25 & 26 

October 26 

October 31 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters Organized, 1903 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters joins American 

Federation of Labor, 1920 

Women’s Equality Day, 19th Amendment, 1920 

Last day to register to VOTE in the Massachusetts State 

Primary on September 16th, 2008 

Labor Day 

Ramadan 

Grandparent’s Day 

Patriot Day 

Primary Day (Massachusetts) (Please Vote for Teamsters 

Local 25 endorsed candidates) 

General Membership Meeting 10:00 A.M. 

Union Hall, 544 Main Street Charlestown, MA 02129 

Blood Bank 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. 


Teamsters Local 25 Charity Golf Tournament 

Windham Country Club, Windham, NH 

Change-To-Win Coalition formed 2005 

Teamsters Local 25 Organized in 1900 

Rosh Hashanah 

Yom Kipper 

Columbus Day 

Last day to register to VOTE in the Massachusetts General 

Election on November 4, 2008 

Flu Shot Vaccines Charlestown, MA 10:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. 

General Membership Meeting 10:00 A.M. 


“WALK NOW FOR AUTISM”, Suffolk Downs 

Blood Bank 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. 


“Strike Out Autism” Candlepin Bowling Tourney 

Bowl-A-Drome Woburn, Massachusetts 

Mother-In-Law Day 

Halloween


Local 25 Business Agents Busy Ratifying Contracts 

Teamsters Local 25 has been busy ratifying “white paper” contracts 

and new agreements since the last issue. We have successfully 

ratified in 2008. 

Admiral Roofing Woburn, Mass 

Aramark Uniform Lawrence, Mass 

Arlington Coal & Lumber Arlington, Mass 

Boston Globe Dorchester, Mass 

Bradco Supply Woburn & Chelmsford, Mass 

Brockway-Smith Andover, Mass 

Catalano Brothers Ayer, Mass 

City of Everett City Services Everett, Mass 

Crown Linen South Boston, Mass 

Delaney Linens Watertown, Mass 

DiSilva Transportation Burlington, Mass 

Dry Ice Corporation Rockland, Mass 

GAF Shipping and Distribution Millis, Mass 

Gilman (Charles) Norwood, Mass 

Good Humor Bryers Framingham, Mass 

Heating Oil Partners Chelsea, Mass 

Hertz East Boston, Mass 

Kiessling Transit Braintree, Mass 

Kraft Power Woburn, Mass 

Lafarge North America Charlestown, Mass 

Laidlaw/First Student Newton, Mass 

M.S. Walker Norwood, Mass 

Manfi Leasing Walpole, Mass 

Manfi Leasing (Supermarket Division) Freetown, Mass 

Melrose School Administrators Melrose, Mass 

Minuteman Leasing–(Raytheon) Andover, Mass 

Mystic Island Transportation 

–Woburn Location Avon, Mass 

New England Millwork Dorchester, Mass 

North American Industries Woburn, Mass 

O.B. Hill Rigging Allston, Mass 

Petroleum Heat & Power 

Mechanics & Service Technicians Chelsea, Mass 

Rigging Division Boston Area 

Ris Paper Woburn, Mass 

Romanow Container Westwood, Mass 

Somerville Housing Authority Police Somerville, Mass 

Stop + Shop Fleet Maintenance Freetown, Mass 

Town of Brookline 911 Brookline, Mass 

Town of Cohasset 9-11 Cohasset, Mass 

Town of Hingham DPW Hingham, Mass 

Town of North Reading Police North Reading, Mass 

UPS Freight Billerica, Mass 

US Foodservice Everett, Mass 

Waltham Lime & Cement Waltham, Mass 

www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2008 | The SPOKESMAN | 11


“Politics Powers Organizing … 

Organizing Powers Politics” is 

the mantra of the 

upcoming federal 

and state 

elections in 

the fall of 

2008. 

As a 

result of the 

Destination 

Resort Casino 

defeat on Beacon 

Hill, Local 25 has 

turned up the political 

volume and targeted incumbents 

for voting against the casino bill. 

“We have found candidates to run against a few of our political 

enemies,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President and Principal Officer 

of Local 25. “It is important to stand up 

for what you believe in and we have 

aligned ourselves with some very viable 

candidates.” 

Local 25 has endorsed the following 

challengers: 

Chris DiBella, who is running 

against first termer Linda Dean 

Campbell in Methuen. 

“I want you to know I am a 

staunch supporter of unions. I was 

raised in a decidedly blue-collar family 

with many of my family members 

being union members. My father, Sal 

DiBella, has been a brother member of 

the International Union of Operating 

Engineers and the Teamsters for 

almost 40 years. I assure you I understand, 

firsthand, how the union has 

helped our family and others in our 

community. I will certainly support any legislation that will 

favor unions continuing to support their members and our 

community. I believe the union’s interests are our interests,” 

said DiBella, candidate for State Representative in the 15th 

Essex District (Methuen). 

He is the first member of the DiBella family to receive a college 

education (Boston University). DiBella went on to receive his 

master’s degree in business administration (Suffolk University), 

and a Juris Doctorate (Suffolk University). Today, he operates his 

own full-service law firm. Prior to starting his law firm, he was a 


Local 25 Endorses Candidates 

Sean O’Brien and Pat McCabe 

consultant and a prosecutor in the district attorney’s office. 

“It is very important to Teamsters Local 25 that elected officials 

act responsibly and support legislation that creates jobs,” 

O’Brien said. “The incumbent, Linda Dean-Campbell, voted 

against the Casino Jobs Bill that would have created thousands 

of jobs and would have secured more local aid for Methuen. We 

need responsible legislators in the Statehouse, not politicians 

who tow the line for the speaker of the house.” 

Patrick McCabe is challenging longtime political insider Paul 

Donato in Medford and Malden. 

McCabe is currently an Organizing and Communications 

Director for SEIU Local 1984, where on a daily basis he encourages 

people to stand up for their rights in the workplace. 

“I am honored that an organization with such a long history 

of dedication and service to the American worker considers me 

worthy of its endorsement,” offered McCabe. McCabe is a graduate 

of the United States Military Academy at West Point and 

spent seven years in the Army, including time as a company 

commander of the 101st Airborne Division in Kosovo. 

“With enthusiasm and confidence, 

Teamsters Local 25 proudly endorses the 

candidacy of Patrick McCabe for state representative 

in Medford and Malden,” 

O’Brien said.“As a union member himself, 

Patrick McCabe understands what our 

members require from a state representative. 

We recently witnessed some very irresponsible 

behavior and a missed opportunity 

by the incumbent, Rep. Paul Donato, 

during the Casino Jobs Bill defeat.” 

Christopher Walsh is challenging 

Pam Richardson in the town of 

Framingham. 

“The election this fall is about candidates 

who will vote responsibly for our 

agenda on Beacon Hill,” O’Brien said. 

“Too many elected officials have put their 

political interests above those of working 

families and their constituents. We believe 

Chris will fight on our behalf.” 

“Jobs and the economy are the top issues in Massachusetts 

and in Framingham. There is nothing on the table in the 

Commonwealth with the potential to create more than 20,000 

near-term and 7,500 permanent jobs and simultaneously generate 

tens of millions of dollars for transportation infrastructure, 

social services and property tax relief as will the governor’s destination 

casino legislation,” Walsh said. 

Walsh, a Democrat, is committed to improving the lives of 

working families in the Massachusetts 6th Middlesex District.


With more than 15 years in town and 

regional leadership positions, Walsh is 

running to energize the economy by creating 

and preserving high wage jobs, tackle 

inequities faced by Metrowest taxpayers 

and commuters, find solutions for funding 

challenges faced by our schools, and 

preserve the quality of life in Metrowest 

through rational redevelopment and 

innovative transportation solutions. 

Walsh, an architect, and his wife 

Cindy own small businesses in 

Framingham and have created jobs, met 

Endorsed Candidates ★★★ 

Chris Walsh and Sean O’Brien Chris DiBella and Sean O’Brien 

payrolls and educated their children in 

the Framingham public schools. As a 

Town Meeting member and community 

leader, he knows how to listen, collaborate 

and find solutions that benefit working 

families, employers and home owners. 

Walsh is the son of Sheila and retired 

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Jack Walsh. 

The International Brotherhood of 

Teamsters Executive Board has endorsed 

Sen. Barack Obama for president of the 

United States. 

“Sen. Obama understands the chal- 

Jim Arciero Second Middlesex House Open Chelmsford, Westford 

Douglas Belanger Second Worcester Senate Open 

Auburn, Grafton, Leicester, 

Millbury, Shrewsbury and Upton 

John Blaisdell Eighth Essex House Challenger Swampscott 

John Clifford Fifteenth Suffolk House Challenger Brookline-Mission Hill 

Geraldine Creedon Eleventh Plymouth House Incumbent Brockton 

Christopher DiBella Fifteenth Essex House Challenger Methuen 

Joseph Driscoll, Jr. Fifth Norfolk House Incumbent Braintree 

Rep. Jennifer Flanagan Worcester & Middlesex Senate Open Leominster 

John Fresolo Sixteenth Worcester House Incumbent Worcester 

William Greene Twenty-Second Middlesex House Incumbent Billerica 

Danielle Gregoire Fourth Middlesex House Open Marlboro 

Astrid Klinteberg Fifth Essex House Challenger Lynn - Gloucester 

Patrick McCabe Thirty-Fifth Middlesex House Challenger Medford - Malden 

Edward Mills Eighth Middlesex House Open Holliston & Hopkinton 

Patrick Natale Thirtieth Middlesex House Incumbent Woburn, Reading, Stoneham 

Harold Naughton, Jr. Twelfth Worcester House Incumbent Boylston, Clinton 

Angelo Puppolo Twelfth Hampden House Incumbent East Longmeadow 

Robert Rice Second Worcester House Incumbent Gardner 

Thomas Roache Ninth Norfolk House Challenger Wrentham 

Stephen Stat Smith Twenty-Eighth Middlesex House Incumbent Everett 

lenges working people face every day,” 

said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General 

President. “He is the candidate in the 

best position to lead our movement to 

restore the American dream for working 

people in this country. Sen. Obama will 

fight for better wages, real health care 

reform, stronger retirement security, fair 

trade and an end to the outsourcing of 

good jobs. He understands the importance 

of giving workers a voice at work 

and will fight for strong unions to help 

rebuild America’s middle class.” 

Timothy Toomey, Jr. Twenty-Sixth Middlesex House Incumbent Cambridge 

Robert Trane Thirty-Fourth Middlesex House Challenger Somerville, Medford 

Christopher Walsh Sixth Middlesex House Challenger Framingham 

Virginia Wood First Middlesex House Challenger 

Ayer, Dunstable, Groton, 

Pepperell and Townsend


Leaders of Carhaul Local Unions 

Overwhelmingly Endorse Tentative Agreement 

Local 25 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Harrington Attends Meeting 

Leaders of carhaul local unions from across the 

country, including Local 25 Secretary-Treasurer 

Mark Harrington, unanimously endorsed the tentative 

National Master Automobile Transporters 

Agreement (NMATA) on July 2 in Detroit, paving the way 

for members to vote on the contract later this month. 

At press time, ballots were scheduled to be mailed out 

to members on or about July 14, and ballots were tentatively 

scheduled to be counted on August 4. 

The tentative agreement secures a record level of 

employer contributions for health, welfare and pension 

benefits, which are the best in the carhaul industry. Plus, 

there are no additional costs to members. The agreement 

also protects against wage cuts that were proposed by the 

employers with freezes for the next two years but includes 

wage increases in the last year of the agreement. 

PTS is not part of the agreement. The company pulled 

out of talks before the tentative agreement was reached 

and announced it was shutting after the Teamsters went 

on strike against PTS. 

“The auto industry and the nation as a whole are 

gripped by economic turmoil right now, but this contract 

addresses our members’ job security, benefits and wages, 

which were their top priorities,” said Fred Zuckerman, 

Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division and co-chairman 

of the Teamsters National Automobile Transporters 

Industry Negotiating Committee. 

“The tentative agreement will help grow the industry 

and give our members a fighting chance,” Zuckerman 

said. “This is a three-year contract and will get us through 


this tough period and help create a more secure future for 

our carhaul members.” 

“I plan to hold a meeting at Local 25 to review the 

tentative agreement with our members,” Harrington said. 

“Our industry is facing a tough time right now, and our 

members are very concerned about the future.” 

Tough Times 

The tentative agreement addresses members’ concerns at 

a very difficult time. There has been a steep decline in 

demand for the Detroit Three’s large vehicles that have 

been their main source of sales and profits. The Detroit 

Three now face the prospect of higher cash outflows to 

offset lower revenue, as well as additional costs for 

restructuring and raw materials, and rising expenditures 

to develop more-fuel-efficient products. 

To stimulate sales, GM has announced pricing incentives 

for the summer months. In announcing the sales 

blitz, GM also said it would cut production of slow-selling 

pickups and SUVs by an additional 170,000 vehicles 

this year and increase by about 50,000 its output of fuelefficient 

cars and crossovers, which are in short supply at 

many dealerships. It was the second time in June that GM 

has revealed plans to build fewer trucks and more small 

cars. Ford Motor Co. made a similar announcement a few 

days earlier. 

Making matters worse, Ford and GM’s credit operations, 

which buoyed the auto makers in the past, are now 

suffering losses on truck loans and leases as a result of 

declining values for used vehicles.


The Board of Directors 


Chairman 

Sean O'Brien 

1st Vice Chairman 


Treasurer 

Robert B. McAllister 

Secretary 

Ernest C. Sheehan, Jr 

John Perry 

Joseph Conti 

Robert F. Cullinane 

Tom Mari 

Supervisory Committee 

Gerald T. Godin 

Chairman 

Robert E. Bayusik 

Joseph J. Bairos 

George Slicis 

Alice Riley-King 

New England Teamsters 

Federal Credit Union 

Summer is Here 

You are the KING of your CASTLE. 

It’s time to upgrade your THRONE! 

Start your home projects and additions now 

with our Home Equity Line. 

4.25% APR* 

It’s a smart and easy way to get cash to: 

• Remodel your kitchen or bath, or add an addition 

• Consolidate your HIGH RATE credit card or other bills 

• Buy a car, finance an education or whatever you choose 

Call 1-800-343-7126 Ext. 36 for more details.


A Message from 

Steven R. Sullivan 

Director of Organizing 

& Government Affairs 

The Organizing Department has been burning the midnight 

oil on a number of campaigns. 

Since my last report we had a 14-1 victory at Penske 

Logistics/Cardinal Health. A special thanks to Organizer 

Steve South for a job well done. “It was great to see these 

drivers vote in support of our local union,” reflected Sean 

M. O’Brien, President and Principal Officer of Local 25. 

“We returned to our roots with these truck drivers from 

Penske.” A special recognition to Sekou Brown for his 

assistance in this campaign. Brown was the lead organizer 

in the Penske “Hikers” election in 2005. 

We lost an election with Inspectorate by a 6-4 vote. 

Inspectorate is an independent testing laboratory catering 

specifically to the oil, gas and petrochemical industry. They 

offer an extensive range of inspection, testing and consultancy 

services at every major loading, discharge and STS 

location in the world. We filed objections to the election at 

the NLRB. The company gave out raises and increased their 

car allowances the day before they were to vote. 

We recently received a favorable decision at the NLRB 

with our petition for Horizon Air Freight of East Boston. 

After three full days of hearings and multiple witnesses 

testifying, the NLRB found in our favor, and called for an 

election for all full-time and part-time drivers. The com- 

Organizer Steve South and the Penske/Cardinal Health drivers are all thumbs-up 

in front of the Union Hall in Charlestown with the results of the election. 


Left to right: Sekou Brown, Elton Heraldo, Frank Torres , 

John Ford, stand in front of a Penske truck. 

pany claimed a “community of interest” with the warehouse, 

dispatchers and couriers. As a result of the positive 

decision, the list of eligible voters dropped from 71 to 50. 

We will be voting sometime in August 2008. 

UPS Somerville Steward Jim Donovan was pulled out 

of work on May 1, 2008 to work on the FedEx mechanics 

national campaign. He has been on the road in Memphis, 

Tennessee to gauge the interest of the airline mechanics 

and vehicle maintenance mechanics. “I have personally 

spoken to more than 300 mechanics of the 5,000 nationwide,” 

Donovan said. “These workers seem very interested 

in becoming Teamsters. After Local 25’s victory at 

FedEx Home Delivery in Wilmington, Massachusetts, 

they now feel empowered in their workplace.” The 

International Brotherhood of Teamsters will be deciding 

soon whether they will file for a National Railway Labor 

Act election at FedEx.


And the Winner Is... 

Our 2008 Scholarship Ceremony was held on Sunday, May 

18, 2008, during our General Membership meeting. This 

year was a special one for Teamsters Local 25. We awarded 

close to $60,000 to 28 children of our members. Each student will 

receive a $2,000 scholarship to help defray the rising tuition cost. 

This is the most we have ever awarded due to the help of our eight 

Sponsored Scholarships. We are very proud to be able to support 

our members’ children with their higher education. Teamsters 

Local 25’s goal is to be able to provide many more scholarships to 

our membership in the future. 

President O’Brien presented each student a scholarship plaque 

in front of the membership. Then President O’Brien surprised the 

recipients with a drawing of two Dell laptops, which were generously 

donated by Sea Change Systems Inc. President O’Brien had 

Joe Conti, President of the Retiree Chapter, pull the two lucky winning 

entries. They were Frank O’Laughlin and John Sullivan Jr. 

Sponsored Scholarships are as follows: 

• George Rodrigues Memorial Scholarship Award 

• Kevin F. Harrington Sr. Scholarship Award 

• Joseph C. Conlon Memorial Scholarship Award 

• Feinberg, Campbell & Zack Scholarship Award 

• Teamsters Local 25 Group Legal Services 

Plan Scholarship Award 

• Teamsters Local 25 Retiree Chapter 

Scholarship Award 

• The Francis Ciccarelli Memorial 

Scholarship Award 

• Aetna Labor Division Scholarship 

Student HighSchool College Member Company 

Marissa Bonito Rockland High School Westfield State College Joseph Bonito Manfi Leasing(Prime Source) 

Shawn Bryan Tewksbury Memorial High School University of New Hampshire Fred Bryan Continental Airlines 

Samantha Calabrese Arlington Catholic High School Salve Regina University Paul Calabrese Charles Gilman & Sons 

John Caldarella Lexington High School Westfield State College John Caldarella DiSilva Transportation 

Joseph Christie Norwood High School Georgetown University Ronald Christie, Sr. UPS-Norwood 

Ronald Christie, Jr. Norwood High School Georgetown University Ronald Christie, Sr. UPS-Norwood 

Jessica Daigle Oakmont Regional High School Wellesley College Paul Amoroso, Jr. Retiree 

Janelle Downey Saugus High School Massachusetts College of Art & Design Fred Downey UPS-Somerville 

Christopher Fennell Boston Latin School University of Massachusetts, Amherst Donald Fennell Massport Authority 

Jamie Flaherty The Bromfield School LaFayette College James Flaherty, Jr. UPS-Chelmsford 

Kristen Gagalis Winchester High School Emory University Steve Gagalis City of Cambridge 

Matthew Galewski Whitman-Hanson Regional High School The George Washington University Paul Galewski Stop & Shop 

Eric GrayGreater Lowell Technical High School Fitchburg State College William Gray UPS-Chelmsford 

Denis Kelleher Boston Latin School Massachusetts Maritime Academy Kevin Kelleher NE Theatrical Division 

Spencer Lau Middletown High School University of Conneticut Wan Fung Lau Manfi Leasing 

Michael Lydon Brook Farm Academy Undecided John Lydon US Foodservice 

April MacFarlane East Bridgewater High School Johnson & Wales University John MacFarlane Allied Waste 

Jill MacInnis Billerica Memorial High School University of Massachusetts, Amherst James MacInnis Xpedx 

Megan Marvelle Hanover High School Endicott College Kathleen Marvelle UPS-Norwood 

Patrick Morrissey Boston College High School Massachusetts Maritime Academy Patrick Morrissey Shaughnessy & Ahern 

Colleen Nielsen Londonderry High School Keene State College Thomas Popoloski DHL Express 

Francis O'Laughlin Wakefield Memorial High School Fitchburg State College Francis O'Laughlin Atlas-Glen-Mor 

Christopher Pappas St. John's Preparatory School Boston University Heidi Pappas Roadway Express Inc. 

Devin Peuser Rockland High School Boston University David Peuser Continental Airlines 

McKenzie Powers East Boston High School Northeastern University Stephen Powers Xpedx 

Alexander Rae Woburn Memorial High School University of Massachusetts Amhearst Michael RaeDHL Express 

Kimberly Santos Marshfield High School Massachuetts Institute of Technology Kenneth Santos UPS-Norwood 

John Sullivan, Jr. Malden Catholic High School Wentworth Institute of Technology John Sullivan City of Cambridge 



Blood Bank NameCompany 

Times/Gallons Name Company Times/Gallons 

John Agri General Public 1 0.125 

Jeff Altbush Teamsterscare 1 0.125 

Margaret Aranyosi General Public 1 0.125 

William Asaro General Public 1 0.125 

William Asaro III New Penn 2 0.25 

Fred Baker Roadway 9 1.125 

Irving Balkman Retired 161 20.125 

Jeffrey A. Bamford N.E. Theatrical 3 0.375 

Frank Barrett Town of Watertown 1 0.125 

Tony Barrone Ris Paper 53 6.625 

Alice Bavaro Retired 26 3.25 

Edward Bettano Costa 1 0.125 

Kim Boehringer General Public 1 0.125 

Warren Boisueit Yellow 26 3.25 

Pauline Boland DHL 3 0.375 

Jerry Bolton Retired 61 7.625 

Brenda Briggs General Public 1 0.125 

Bob Burns Retired 83 10.375 

Al Butts New Penn 1 0.125 

Linda Calder General Public 1 0.125 

William Chambers General Public 6 0.75 

Karen Chapdelaine General Public 1 0.125 

Katie Christianson General Public 1 0.125 

Joe Cochran New Penn 38 4.75 

Karen Crawford Roadway 4 0.5 

Kris Crawford Roadway 6 0.75 

John Crosby Retired 1 0.125 

Samantha Cullinane Teamsterscare 1 0.125 

John Curran Yellow 32 4 

Jim "Moose" Curry Aggregate Industries 2 0.25 

Robert Deane Ris Paper 1 0.125 

Dan Dellucci Ris Paper 7 0.875 

Joseph Destasio Retired 50 6.25 

Alexis Donnelly General Public 1 0.125 

Daniel Donohoe Global Oil 6 0.75 

Michael Downey General Public 14 1.75 

Stephen Drago US FoodService 38 4.75 

Rosie Dunlap UPS - Chelmsford 6 0.75 

Chuck Durfee Retired 131 16.375 

Bob Eastman TeamstersCare 1 0.125 

Michael Erelli Yellow 28 3.5 

Lindsey Fairweather General Public 1 0.125 

Tom Farnkoff Retired 47 5.875 

Paul Fawcett Local 653 1 0.125 


Antonette Fernandez General Public 12 1.5 

K Flanigon General Public 1 0.125 

James Flynn N.E. Theatrical 21 2.625 

Richard Foppiano Retired 38 4.75 

Joseph Foti UPS - Chelmsford 12 1.5 

Doug Francey APM 29 3.625 

Dick Frank City of Cambridge - DPW 37 4.625 

Elizabeth Fula FEDEX 4 0.5 

Patricia Gaffey General Public 1 0.125 

David Gartland Manfi Leasing - Stop & Shop 41 5.125 

Tom Gauvin General Public 1 0.125 

Dave Getty Ris Paper 1 0.125 

Greg Gigg Roadway 30 3.75 

Helen Giglio City of Everett 5 0.625 

Edward Giglio General Public 5 0.625 

Philip Haley Marr Scaffolding 3 0.375 

Mark Hall Aggregate Industries 5 0.625 

John W Hannon Retired 58 7.25 

Brian Harrington Yellow 22 2.75 

James Harris Heating Oil Partners 6 0.75 

David Heffernan Teamsterscare 1 0.125 

Ed Hilton City of Cambridge 2 0.25 

Dennis Holland N.E. Theatrical 2 0.25 

Joe Homer Retired 1 0.125 

Eugene T. Hurley Yellow 32 4 

Dan Jalbert General Public 1 0.125 

John D. Jeffrey Retired 106 13.25 

Robert Johnson General Public 8 1 

John Juszkiewicz UPS - Chelmsford 18 2.25 

Daniel Kakleas New Penn 41 5.125 

William Kelley Jr. United Liquor 26 3.25 

Gregory Kerwood UPS - Somerville 9 1.125 

Jim Kessler Stop & Shop 4 0.5 

Allan Kessler Stop & Shop 1 0.125 

Michael Kimball Leaseway Motorcar 20 2.5 

Paul Kirby Admiral Metals 17 2.125 

Charles Knecht Retired 55 6.875 

Bill Kuttner General Public 5 0.625 

Eleanor Laffey UPS - Somerville 4 0.5 

Kevin Lally Retired 71 8.875 

Paul Langan Retired 142 17.75 

Joseph Laplante GD Mathews 8 1 

Patti Lapointe TeamstersCare 59 7.375 

James Lawton General Public 1 0.125


Name Company Times/Gallons Name Company Times/Gallons 

Craig Leach Arlington Coal & Lumber 1 0.125 

Stephen Lema Manfi Leasing - Stop & Shop 31 3.875 

Al Littlefield Stop & Shop - Freetown 10 1.25 

Denise Lundin General Public 1 0.125 

Martin Lynch N.E. Theatrical 1 0.125 

Jim MacInnis XPEDX 17 2.125 

Brian MacLeod Shaughnessy & Ahern 5 0.625 

Marilyn Macleod Teamsterscare 1 0.125 

Patrick Magoon General Public 1 0.125 

Ron Mahoney Atlas-Glen Mor 60 7.5 

Tim Manning Yellow 61 7.625 

Rob Marshall General Public 2 0.25 

Tom Maskaluk Arlington Coal & Lumber 2 0.25 

Bob McAllister Local 25 109 13.625 

Charlie McAskill Atlas-Glen Mor 45 5.625 

Nicholas McDonald Stop & Shop 1 0.125 

Tom McGarty General Public 1 0.125 

Jean McGonagle General Public 12 1.5 

Sheila McGonagle General Public 16 2 

Mike McGrath US Foodservice 38 4.75 

Richard McMurty UPS - Norwood 18 2.25 

Elizabeth Meagher General Public 1 0.125 

Gail Michalski Alliance 14 1.75 

M Miranda UPS 7 0.875 

Robert Monteforte UPS - Somerville 7 0.875 

Ronnie Moran Retired 117 14.625 

Donna Moran General Public 1 0.125 

Paul Moran MARR 1 0.125 

Mike Morrissey DHL 10 1.25 

Jacqueline Moulton General Public 1 0.125 

John J. Murphy Retired 165 20.625 

Kevin Nangle New Penn 33 4.125 

William Newhall UPS 1 0.125 

George Newman BLET 1 0.125 

Beverly O'Brien General Public 1 0.125 

Kelly O'Neil General Public 1 0.125 

Stephen O'Neil Union Hall 1 0.125 

Michael Pagliaro New Penn 78 9.75 

Angela Partisano General Public 1 0.125 

Joe Peluso Atlas-Glen Mor 43 5.375 

Tom Pennell Retired 50 6.25 

Armand Pepin Manfi / Stop & Shop 5 0.625 

Edmund E Petit Jr. Union Hall 19 2.375 

Benjamin Quinto General Public 1 0.125 

David Radochia Boston Globe 37 4.625 

Richard Raso Raso's Grille 1 0.125 

Fran Roberts General Public 2 0.25 

Dylan Ruecket General Public 1 0.125 

Nicole Salvati Silk 6 0.75 

Anthony Salvati Silk 1 0.125 

Karen Salvato Credit Union 24 3 

Bob Sansone General Public 1 0.125 

Joe Sciuto Retired 50 6.25 

John Shallow City of Cambridge 1 0.125 

Paul Sharpe Retired 84 10.5 

James Sheehan Schuster 54 6.75 

Harry Shipps General Public 1 0.125 

Samual J. Silverman General Public 1 0.125 

Anthony Soopa Costa 1 0.125 

Dan Splaine Retired 123 15.375 

Tom Sullivan Global - Chelsea 42 5.25 

Fred Sutera Union Hall 50 6.25 

Eb Thedford General Public 1 0.125 

Bill Thibodeaur Retired 53 6.625 

Annabelle Torino General Public 15 1.875 

Robert Torino Adams - Chapman 14 1.75 

James Torrey UPS - Chelmsford 14 1.75 

Alexandra Unger General Public 1 0.125 

Steve Urqnhart Retired 3 0.375 

Charlie Vaughn Retired 1 0.125 

Leo Walbourne UPS - Chelsea 29 3.625 

Amanda Wells General Public 1 0.125 

Joe Wilkins General Public 1 0.125 

James Woods Yellow 40 5 

Michelle Yannett General Public 1 0.125


Weight-Loss 

Local 25 Members Have “Biggest Loser” Competition at Work 

Dunkin’ Donuts may not appear to be the most 

appropriate place to kick off a weight-loss contest, but it 

worked for some Local 25 Teamsters in a friendly competition 

among coworkers. The members are all drivers working 

for Manfi Leasing—Stop & Shop Division, at the 

Freetown Stop & Shop in Massachusetts. 

From January 15 to May 15, several coworkers at the 

Stop & Shop held a “Biggest Loser” competition with six 

teams of five men competing against each other to lose the 

most weight. The winner, Dale Johnson, who lost 50.6 

pounds, won the money collected from the participants, 

plus an extra $100 pitched in by the contest’s organizer, 


Bob Halloran, a Local 25 Stop & Shop worker. 

Denis Provost, a captain of one of the teams in 

the competition, said his team had their first strategy 

meeting at a local Dunkin’ Donuts. “We met 

up and spoke about differing ideas that each 

of us had for weight loss, and we had a 

good time gelling as a team. 

“I was very excited about the 

opportunity to help other drivers get 

into shape, prolong their lives, increase 

their energy levels, be able to do more 

things with their family, add years to

9239_Local25_Sum08.qxp 7/28/08 10:20 AM Page 25 

From left to right: Dale Johnson, lost 50.6 pounds, a 19.8 percent weight loss; Bill Starvish, 21.6 pounds, 8.5 percent 

weight loss; Denis R. Provost, 43.2 pounds, 17.5 percent weight loss; John Aguilar 32.6 pounds, 12.7 percent weight loss; 

and Decio Medeiros, 28 pounds, 10.5 percent weight loss. Not pictured: Bob Gugliotta, 14.8 pounds, percent weight loss; 

Bob Halloran, 17.4 pounds, percent weight loss; and Brian Sousa, 33.2 pounds, percent weight loss. 

their lives and stay away from the doctor’s office,” he said. 

Of the 280 drivers at Stop & Shop, 30 participated. The 

workers lost a total of 524.5 pounds over the four-month 

competition. 

“It started out as just a fun thing—a way to pass the 

winter,” said Halloran, who has been a Teamster for thirty-four 

years. “It turned out to be a win-win situation 

for everyone involved. The workers, the company, our 

families—everyone.” 

“At one time in this business, we did just about everything 

by hand and got a great workout every day and 

everyone was in shape,” said Mark Sullivan, who has 

worked at Stop & Shop for 23 years. “About 10 years ago, 

everything started going electric and everybody put on 

pounds. And I mean everybody. I put on about 50 

pounds myself.” 

“I’m really proud of these guys for taking the initiative 

on not only getting healthy, but getting to know their 

Teamster coworkers,” said Sean M. O’Brien, President of 

Boston’s Local 25. 

Healthier Lifestyles 

What started out as a simple weight-loss contest turned 

into much more for many of the participants. 

“As we went through this contest, we met many 

men that we had worked with but never knew,” 

Provost said.“We got healthier, noticeably lighter and made 

friendships at work. This contest really helped us to 

become more of what a Teamster should be—a family-oriented 

individual who is doing what’s best for himself and 

the people around him.” 

Provost said some members of his team even got their 

families on successful weight-loss programs because of the 

contest’s success. 

“During the contest, I lost 35 pounds. I did it just by 

portion control and cutting back on the ice cream,” 

Sullivan said. “It worked, and is still working. I’ve lost 10 

more pounds since the end of the contest and I want to 

drop another 20 pounds.” 

“The approach these workers took to wellness is a 

good thing that more Teamsters should become involved 

in,” said LaMont Byrd, Director of the Teamsters Safety 

and Health Department. “Obesity is rampant in the U.S., 

including among Teamsters. Chronic diseases such as 

diabetes, sleep apnea and heart disease are closely associated 

with obesity, and the costs to our health and welfare 

funds could be greatly impacted if members and 

their families adopted healthier lifestyles.” 



Davie Pierce 

Steward, Kraft Power 

Serving as a steward is always a challenge, 

but David Pierce faces the dual 

challenge of being relatively new at the 

task and serving in a newly organized 

work site. 

“There’s a lot to deal with as far as all 

of us working under a new Teamster contract,” said Pierce, who 

has been a steward since May 1, 2008. Late last year, Pierce and his 

19 coworkers at Kraft Power in Woburn voted by a 6-1 margin to 

join Local 25. 

Because workers have only had a Teamster contract for a short 

time, many workers are not used to knowing they have a strong 

voice as Teamsters. “Some guys don’t know they now have a strong 

voice. I try to educate them and let them know that they do in fact 

have a strong voice and can speak up when something is wrong,” 

Pierce said. 

“I tell my coworkers, ‘this is what you can do,” Pierce said of 

the ongoing education process. “It’s a learning curve.” 

The effort has already paid off. Working with Business Agent 

Tom Mari, Pierce said he was able to reduce a firing to a termination 

to a suspension for one of his coworkers. 

Pierce said being Teamsters has made a huge difference in the 

workplace. “We get treated with more respect now. Management 

asks us now versus telling us,” Pierce said. 

Pierce is a service technician. He and his coworkers service 

emergency generators, diesel/natural gas engines and heavy equipment. 

For example, Pierce has serviced large generators that provide 

electricity on Cuttyhunk Island, part of the Elizabeth Islands 

off Cape Cod. Other equipment powers fire pumps in skyscrapers 

in downtown Boston. 

In his spare time, Pierce is a member of the soul, funk and 

rhythm and blues band Mojo Slim (www.mojoslim.com). He and 

his wife, who live in Lynn, have two sons. 

Paul Mathi 

Chief steward, U.S. Foodservice 

Paul Mathi has been a Teamster at U.S. 

Foodservice in Everett for 24 years, and has 

been a steward for the last 16 years and chief 

steward for the last eight years. 

The key to being an effective steward is 

“paying attention to the members and finding 

out they need,” said Mathi, a tractor-trailer driver. 

“I work on behalf of 200 guys here and everybody is different,” 

Mathi said. “Nobody has the same problem or faces the same situa- 


Stewards 

Spotlight 

tion. So, you have to get to know people and work with them as 

individuals to solve their problems. Getting to know each member 

is very important. Being a steward can be a thankless job, but I love 

it because of a great relationship with the guys. I don’t want to be 

thought of as the steward. I want to be thought of as Paul, the chief 

steward and a friend.” 

In addition to the great relationship Mathi has with his coworkers, 

his enthusiasm about his job stems from his love of the Teamsters. 

“I love what the Teamsters stand for—they have helped build this 

country for over a century,” he said. 

Mathi says Local 25 President Sean M. O’Brien has had a tremendous 

positive effect on him and the local’s membership in general. 

“I’ve never been more effective in my job since Sean O’Brien 

became Local 25 President,” Mathi said. “And working for Business 

Agent Dave Pietroforte has been great. The future of the Teamsters 

is Sean O’Brien. He makes it easy for me to do my job. It means a 

lot to me to have his trust and Dave Pietroforte’s trust. But they also 

both hold me accountable, which makes me do a better job.” 

Mathi and his wife, who have two children, live in Bridgewater. 

Joe Shaw 

Steward, UPS Freight 

After spending 20 years as a Teamster at the 

former Red Star freight company, Joe Shaw 

is happy to be back in the union, this time 

at UPS Freight in Billerica. 

“It’s great to be back in the union after 

being out for about four years,” said Shaw, 

who has worked at UPS Freight for about three years. “I’m really 

happy to once again share the camaraderie with all the other 

Teamster drivers. I attend all the Local 25 meetings. We’re 100 percent 

better off now as Teamsters at UPS Freight.” 

Shaw is now putting his experience to work as a steward, a position 

he has held at the newly organized UPS Freight for just over 

four months. At UPS Freight, formerly Overnite Transportation, 

workers have endured a half-century struggle to win a Teamster 

contract. Earlier this year, thanks to a card-check agreement won by 

the Teamsters, workers joined the union and recently ratified their 

first contract. 

“Being a steward is really a learning experience,” Shaw said of 

the experience. 

The new manager never worked at a union terminal, so that has 

added to the challenge. Shaw said he has taken a “slow and steady” 

approach to the job, educating his coworkers about their rights. 

“Only about a quarter of the 40 guys here have ever been in a union 

before, so there’s a lot of learning going on,” he said. 

“Before becoming Teamsters, guys were afraid,” Shaw said.“You 

could be fired and gone. The threat was always there. Now we have a 

Teamster contract in place that gives us protections. I am encourag-


ing my coworkers to learn their contract so that they know what 

kinds of protections are in place. 

Shaw and his wife, who have three children, live in Pepperell. 

Jan Guazzaloca 

Alternate Steward, UPS 

Earning the respect of coworkers and not 

allowing yourself to be intimidated by 

management are two guiding principles for 

alternate steward Jan Guazzaloca, who is a 

package-car driver at the UPS center in 

Watertown. 

“You have to let management know that you’re not going to 

back down when you are on the side of what’s right,” said 

Guazzaloca, who has worked at UPS for more than five and a half 

years. She has been an alternate steward since August of 2007. 

“You can’t worry about what the company might do to you in 

terms of retaliation. You have to stand up for the contract.” 

Standing up for what’s right and defending members’ contract 

rights will earn you the respect needed to do a good job, she says. 

“If they (management) think they can get away with something, 

they will try to do that,” she said. “As long as you hold the company 

accountable to the contract, they can’t get away with unjust things. 

You have to make sure the contract is enforced.” 

Whenever coworkers need help or have questions, Guazzaloca 

uses that opportunity to stress to them the importance of knowing 

their Teamster contract. “They slowly begin to see the importance of 

knowing about the contract and how it can make your life at work 

easier,” she said. 

Since becoming an alternate steward, Guazzaloca said she has 

learned to be prepared before going to talk to management about 

a problem. 

“You need to know what you’re talking about before you go in 

to talk to management,” she said. “You need to get the full picture.’ 

Guazzaloca, who lives in Reading, has three children. 

Liston Callwood 

Steward, Breyers Ice Cream 

Liston Callwood has worked at Breyers ice 

cream in Framingham for 23 years, and 

for more than half that time—12 years— 

he has served as a steward. 

Over the past 12 years, Callwood said 

he has honed his communication skills 

with both his coworkers and management. 

“I can relate to the workers as far as dealing with problems that 

arise with management and I can take those concerns and talk to 

management so that we can get to the bottom of the problems and 

come up with solutions,” said Callwood, who adds flavoring to Breyers 

ice cream, including vanilla, strawberry and vanilla fudge twirl. 

“To be an effective steward, you have to know about the union 

and attend meetings and learn what the union does for workers,” 

Callwood said. “You also have to learn how to communicate with 

people so that you get things done.” 

Callwood said he has a deep curiosity in people and the union. 

He communicates often with Local 25 Business Agent George Slicis 

and with Lenny Campbell, the head steward. 

Questions about overtime are frequent at the work site, and 

Callwood takes the time to get all sides of each conflict and keep an 

open line of communication. 

“Being a Teamster provides a better work environment for me, 

Callwood said. “The union has given me a better job for me to provide 

for my family. The Teamsters represent a strong force for workers 

everywhere.” 

Callwood lives in Douglas, Massachusetts and has four children. 

Joe Ferreira 

Steward, DHL 

Helping your coworkers learn their contract 

so that they know their rights is always a 

challenge for any steward, but it’s an especially 

challenging task for DHL workers who 

recently ratified their first national contract. 

“I was born and bred under the New 

England National Master Freight Agreement, so having a new 

national contract is a learning curve for me and all my coworkers,” 

said Joe Ferreira, a steward at DHL in Stoneham. 

It’s exciting to have a new national contract with new protections 

in writing, Ferreira said. However, because the contract has 

only been in effect for a few months, many questions arise. 

“I have taken the time to learn the contract and I encourage my 

coworkers to do the same,” Ferreira said.“A good steward, if he or she 

doesn’t know the answer, will try to immediately learn the information 

so they can pass it along. If I don’t have the answer, I will call 

Tom Mari, my business agent at Local 25. Tom is always a great help.” 

Questions about “90/10,” having to do with bidding full-time 

runs and coverage drivers, have come up recently. Ferreira has 

worked hard to get answers for his coworkers. 

“There will continue to be questions, but I’m up for the challenges 

of working under a new, strong contract,” said Ferreira, who 

has worked at DHL for about 14 years and has been a steward for 

about two years. 

“Local 25 President Sean O’Brien is doing an excellent job, as is 

Tom Mari,” Ferreira said. “I want to also thank Vice President John 

Murphy on his work negotiating the strong national contract.” 

Ferreira lives in Pelham, New Hampshire with his wife and 

two children. 

www.teamsterslocal25.com | SUMMER 2008 | The SPOKESMAN | 25


Pensioners 

March 

April 

May 

Name Company Effective Date Type 

Charles C Bowen, Jr. Warehouse Transport 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Alfred C Brown Independent Tallow 02/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Warren C Brown Manfi Leasing Corp. 02/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Charles M Clooney Manfi Leasing Corp. 02/01/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Henry W Comire New Penn Motor Express Inc 03/01/08 Disability Pension 

Hee Shee C Eagle United Parcel Serv. Inc. 01/01/08 Special Service Plan D 

Thomas E Gallagher Purity Supreme Inc. 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Gerald Goldman Manfi Leasing 03/07/07 Regular Pension 

Frederick J Gore Petroleum Heat & Power Co 12/01/07 Early Retirement Pension 

Robert F Hargraves Brockway-Smith Co 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

William G Hupper Consolidated Freightways Corp. 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Francis P Kowzic Stop & Shop Supermarket Co 05/01/07 Special Service Plan D 

Joseph Loring Delivery Corp. 01/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Robert T McKim Leaseways Deliveries Inc. 03/01/08 Disability Pension 

James M O’Brien Browning-Ferris Ind. Inc. 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

James F O’Leary Heating Oil Partners, L.P. 02/01/08 Regular Pension 

Robert D Sample Purity Supreme Inc. 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Thomas S Schoener BFI/Allied Waste Inc Inc 12/01/07 Disability Pension 

Alexander Williams Bennett & Co Inc. 04/01/07 Statutory Pension 

Robert J Campbell Bird Inc/Northeast Roofing Div 03/01/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Angelo J Ciaramaglia Lowell Bros & Bailey Co 03/01/08 Disability Pension 

Paul P Coccovillo Darrigo Bros Co of Mass 03/01/08 Disability Pension 

Joseph L Collette New Penn Motor Express Inc 03/01/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Edward K Cody Manfi Leasing Corp 04/01/08 Disability Pension 

Christina L Connors Jones Motor Co Inc 01/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Silvestre D DaSilva Bird Inc/Northeast Roofing Div 04/01/08 Regular Pension 

Robert G Destefano DHL Express (USA Inc.) 03/01/08 Disability Pension 

Patrick A Devasto Plymouth Rock Trans Corp 12/01/07 Statutory Pension 

Michael J Doherty, Jr. Aggregate Industries 03/01/08 Regular Pension 

Andrew P Hagopian Xpedx 03/01/08 Disability Pension= 

Peter F Lamb Needham Oil & Air, LLC. 01/01/08 Disability pension 

Richard V Landry Delivery Corp 02/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Sandra D Mahoney Jordan Marsh 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Edward J McGonagle New Penn Motor Express Inc 04/01/08 Special Service Plan 

Henry T Murphy Clean Environment Company 04/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Raymond T Nguyen Romanow Inc 04/01/08 Regular Pension 

James A O’Mara Jr. Brinks Inc. 04/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Nelson F Pimental, Jr. G A F Materials Corp 03/01/08 Thirty Year Full Service 

Gerald A Segal Costa Fruit & Produce Co. 02/01/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Bruce G Thayer St. Johnsbury Trucking Co Inc. 04/01/08 Regular Pension 

John A Tortora Pappas Co Inc. 04/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Harry Vieno Colliton Bldg Materials Inc 03/01/08 Statutory Pension 

Charles F Wilcox Boston Sand & Gravel Co 02/01/08 Regular Pension 

Kevin A Anthony Good Humor~Breyers 04/08 Statutory Pension 

William J Barry A –P-A Transport Corp. 05/08 Statutory Pension 

Donald R Biron Clicquot Club Co. 04/08 Statutory Pension 

Henry K Briones Manfi Leasing Corp. 04/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Gregorio A Castasus Stop & Shop Dairy 04/08 Disability Pension 

Anthony J Evangelista Roadway Express Inc. 04/08 Regular Pension 

Paul F Mahan Perkins Trucking Co Inc. 04/08 Disability Pension 

Steve J Mahoney Star Market Companies Inc. 05/01 Early Retirement Pension 

James T Parker Roadway Express Inc. 04/08 Disability Pension 

George C Rauseo Jr. Catalano Brothers 04/08 Early Retirement Pension 

Richard L Rivet Clicquot Club Co. 05/08 Statutory Pension 

Gerald D Silvestri Consolidated Frtwys Corp/Del 03/08 Regular Pension 

Alan J Torr Sharp Air Freight Svc Inc. 04/08 Regular Pension 

26 | The SPOKESMAN | SUMMER 2008 | www.teamsterslocal25.com


Memoriam 

In 

Name Company Name Company 

James M. Avery Bird & Sons 

Chester Stanley Abbott Union Office Local 829 

Clifford T. Bates Interstate System 

Anthony J. Belmont Catalano Bros. 

Gordon E. Bigwood Duane Co. 

Spencer L. Brooks Star Enterprises (White Fuel) 

Patrick K. Brown American Smith & Colonial Provision 

Thomas F. Burns Boston Herald 

William A. Burns Petroleum Heat&Power 

Louis Capobianco Yankee Foods 

Paul D. Cavanagh James Ferrera & Sons 

Marcella M. Cellini Jordan Marsh 

Pasquale N. Civetti Star Market 

Charles M. Clooney Manfi 

Roger A. Condon Manfi 

Thomas F. Cooney Jr. Coastal Oil 

Leo J. Cyrus Oneida 

Felice A. Damore Halls Motor transit Co. 

Francis C. DelGreco Brine Trans 

Joseph M. Dirienzo New Penn 

Eileen Duggan City Of Cambridge 

Charles Ellis Shaughnessy & Ahern 

Harry E. Enos Lee Trucking 

Nicholas Giliberti Daves Motor Freight 

Martha W. Glynn Federal Distillers 

Francis E. Gould Brewer 

Seraphim Gouveia Thomas Quinn Co. 

George Hallihan Purity Supreme 

Timothy F. Hayes Finast 

Paul J. Hegner City of Everett 

Kenneth M. Heuklom Axton Cross 

James E. Hornick Manfi Leasing 

Lawrence Hussey UPS Chelmsford 

Joseph A. Infantino Peter Condakes Co. 

Pasulayman Jeng GAF 

Richard Johnson Roadway Exp 

Peter P. Kasputis, Jr. Plymouth rock 

Robert F. Kearns Interstate Systems 

Ralph V. Kelley Petroleum Heat & Power 

Edward B. Kepple Delivery Corp. 

Richard A. Kimball Carolina 

Arthur E. Kootz Pickering Oil & Heat 

Joseph Kuleisus Girco Ind. Gases 

Peter F. Lake JP Galvin 

Henry Larocque Warehouse Trans Inc. 

Joseph E. Lavalle Purity Supreme 

Gregory Liberopoulos Retail Stores Del Inc. 

Joseph C. Lindsay Texaco 

William D. Maguire DHL 

John H. Masterson Global 

George McCarthy Lechmere 

James P. McCarthy DiSilva Trans 

Thomas V. McGhee Mass Disp. 

Ronald E. McKearney H.M. Gould 

William J. Merrick Jr. Yankee Foods 

Anthony Miele Shaughnessy & Ahern 

Henry J. Morris Finast 

Erin Nichols UPS 

William Nicholson W.H. Glancy & Sons 

Robert R. Owen Delivery Corp. 

Richard A. Papa UPS 

Gerard J. Pattie Old Colony Oil 

James W. Pelechowicz Alliance Energy 

William Perry Maislin 

James M. Perry Cryoweld 

Nicholas Pilavios Bird, Inc. 

Henry Porter Drake Motor Lines 

Jesse J. Quinn Jr. Manfi Leasing 

Dennis Ray UPS Chelmsford 

Edward F. Reardon Signal 

Robert Redden Giroux Bros 

Paul A. Reitchel Johnson Motor 

Thomas C. Richardson Smiths Transfer 

Frederick Rickson Aggregate Ind 

Austin F. Robinson UPS 

Francis E. Rogers Daves Motor Freight 

Stanley Rossetsky Bird 

Thomas J. Russo St. Johnsbury 

Vincent Sardo Roadway 

Alfred R. Scott Lifschultz Terminal & Leasing 

Domenic Silletti Bird & Son 

Chester Simkins III UPS Chelmsford 

Joseph J. Sinerate Plasticrete Boston Corp. 

John F. Snell Retail Stores (504) 

George Taft Clicoqout Club 

George F. Tatalias United Const. Company of Boston 

Joseph A. Tate Lombard Bros. 

Arthur A. Therrien Motor Trans. Inc. 

John Trinidad Northeast Petrolium Corp 

Robert M. Vance E.H. Hinds 

Donald Wahlberg Dandy Summer & School Service 

Steven Wall Purity Supreme 

Joseph P. Walsh Hub Mushroom Co. 

Donald E. Webb Coan Bros 

John F. Whitney Federal Distillers 

Frank G. Williams Stop & Shop 



25 

Teamsters 

Local 25 

Retiree Chapter 

Joe Conti 

President 

Chuck Durfee 


John "Johnny B" 

Buonaugurio 

Vice President 

Retiree Chapter News 

Retiree News 

On March 19, 2008 a St. Patrick’s Day dinner was 

held in the dayroom and we had a great turnout. 

Retiree President Joe Conti, Secretary Treasurer 

Chuck Durfee and long time member Tony Bruno 

started at 6 a.m. to set up folding chairs and tables 


Left to Right: Chuck Durfee, Sean O’Brien and Joe Conti 

decorated with green table cloths. Carrots, 

turnip, potatoes, onion and cabbage 

had to be cut and washed and meat had 

to be prepared. The vegetables for the 

meal were donated by Vice President 

Johnny B. and Joe (Bananas) Logrippo. 

Chuck Durfee did the cooking with the 

help of Joe Conti and Tony Bruno. The 

meal was excellent and the vegetables 

and meat were perfectly cooked. Over 50 

people were served. In addition to the 

wonderful meal, we had lots of Irish fun. 

Joe, Chuck and Tony received many compliments 

and a big hand for all their hard work. Teamster 

Local 25 President Sean O’Brien stopped by and 

congratulated them for their hard work. They were 

still there at 3:30 p.m. cleaning up. Our special 

thanks to the members who cleared, folded and 

put the tables away. 

At the April 10, 2008 breakfast meeting we had 

a great turnout with 240 members and friends in 

attendance. Retiree President Joe Conti opened the 

meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance. Bill Burpee 

read the names of six members who had passed 

away since our January 10 breakfast meeting. Trea- 

surer Chuck Durfee read his report and Bill 

Grubbs made a motion to accept the report and it 

was seconded by Paul (Whitey) Walsh and passed 

unanimously. 

President Conti introduced Audiology Director 

Tricia Kosiorek. Tricia began her talk by saying she 

was familiar with quite a few of the people in the 

audience. Everybody was glad to see her too. She 

was asked to speak to the retirees about 

how to manage ear wax as it is a big 

problem that she sees very often. She 

said we have to talk about this because 

one third of people over 65 have a problem 

with it and it can affect hearing. We 

all have and need ear wax because it 

helps clean and lubricate the ears, but if 

it gets drier it becomes impacted and 

causes infections and actually affects the 

hearing. Tricia explained that it happens 

a lot in older people and we should talk 

Audiology Director: Tricia Kosiorek 

to an audiologist because she can also see if there 

are any perforations or infections that need attention. 

The audiologist will help you find over the 

counter methods to manage your ears at home. 

She said you should not use Q-tips as you could 

injure the ear drum. You should have an examination 

every year and if you had trouble hearing her 

at this time you should have your ears checked 

soon. 

Ritchie Reardon, President-CEO of the Federal 

Credit Union spoke about how to manage your 

money. He said that the credit union is a branch of 

the Teamsters that is there for the members. They


Welcome Aboard! 

Salvatore Amoroso 

DHL 

Henry Beliveau 

Coastal Oil 

Charles Bowen 

Warehouse Trans 

Henry Briones 

Signal Delivery 

Albert Butler 

Modern Continental 

Richard Chase 

Aggregate Ind 

Thomas Carleton 

Alliance Express 

Thomas Doherty 

Texaco 

James Eagle 

UPS 

Chester Jepson 

Mafi Leasing 

Domenic Maccioli 

UPS 

Bridget Manganis 

Local 25 Pharmacy 

John Romano 

Mass Port 

Gerald Silvestri 

CF 

Lawrence Wilson 

DHL 

are all Teamsters helping Teamsters and if you have a 

money issue, call them for help. The credit union helps 

direct you to the right people to manage your money. The 

rates are better than any bank and they don’t have to turn a 

profit. The credit union will see where the best loans are for 

you and steer you in the right direction. 

Reardon spoke about Accidental Death Dismemberment 

insurance that we carried when we were working. 

If you lost a limb or died it was a good insurance. But as 

a retiree this is not a necessary insurance. It is better to convert 

to term insurance to carry just enough money to pay 

final bills. 

He told the retirees that the credit union has a secure 

program for paying bills on line and for on line banking. 

They are going to set up a teaching program in the lobby of 

the credit union to show you how to do it on your computer. 

Richie spoke about reverse mortgages. The government 

now has regulated fees and rates for any company or 

bank that provides reverse mortgages, which is a good 

development. He said that if you need help with anything 

financial, such as advice on reverse mortgages, loans, certificates 

of deposits (CDs) etc., you can call the credit 

union and they will help you find the best people to contact 

for information. 

Richie took questions. One retiree asked if there will 

ever be a COLA for the older pensioners? Ritchie said it 

would be something they would want to do. However, the 

federal government prohibits this because the pension fund 

would be spending more than is being added to the fund. 

Other Business 

The Teamsters clock was won by Bobby O’Leary. The $25 

door prize winners were: Jim Cassidy, Bob Ricciardi and 

Richard Wells. 

Thanks to Café Sorelli Inc. for an excellent breakfast 

and a special thanks to our members who served the food: 

Frank Pagliaro, Bob Ricciardi, Billy Ronchetti, Jimmy 

Ronchetti, Tony Bruno, Jerry Bolton, Dave Dolaher, Angelo 

Riva, Paul Sharpe, and Paul McNelley. 

At the Teamsters May 18, 2008 monthly meeting President 

Joe Conti read the name of Jessica Daigle as the winner 

of our $2,000 scholarship. The scholarship was presented 

to Ms. Daigle by President Sean O’Brien. 

The annual donation of $250 was made for the 

upkeep of the Workers Memorial for members who died 

while working. 

On May 28, Teamster’s day at Suffolk Downs was very 

successful with 165 members and friends attending. 

Bill Burpee 

Recording-Secretary 

Kevin Lally 

Trustee 

Herb Andrews 

Trustee 

Dan Splaine 

Trustee 

www.teamsterslocal25.com | WINTER 2008 | The SPOKESMAN | 29


Visit the official Teamsters 

for Obama web site to: 

• Purchase official Teamsters for Obama gear 

• Contribute to DRIVE 

• Sign up to volunteer 

• Register for e-mail updates 

• Keep up with campaign events 

• Download fliers 

• Register to Vote 

www.TeamstersForObama.com 

Access TeamstersforObama.com today using your 

members-only password: Obama08 

The Spokesman 

Summer 2008 

The Spokesman (USPS 613-400) 

is published by 

Teamsters Local 25, 

International Brotherhood of 

Teamsters, 544 Main Street, 

Boston, MA 02129-1113. 

Telephone (617) 241-8825. 

Periodicals Class Postage Paid 

at Boston, MA 

POSTMASTER 

PLEASE SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO: 

TEAMSTERS UNION LOCAL 25 

TEAMSTERS SUPPORT OBAMA 

Senator Obama understands the challenges working people face 

every day. He is the candidate in the best position to lead our 

movement to restore the American dream for working people in 

this country. 

Senator Obama will fight for better wages, real health care 

reform, stronger retirement security, fair trade and an end to the 

outsourcing of good jobs. He understands the importance of giving 

workers a voice at work and will fight for strong unions to 

help rebuild America’s middle class. 

“Senator Obama will fight to rebuild our transportation infrastructure,”said 

Jim Hoffa. “He will work with us to address critical 

issues from our rails to our port, highways and airports. We 

need a president who is focused on rebuilding America and 

Barack Obama will be that president.” 

THE SPOKESMAN 

Periodicals 

POSTAGE PAID 

Boston, MA

PoliticsÃ¢â‚¬Â¦Not as Usual - Teamsters Local 25

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?